I think we have to remember that it took time for Bergeron to come back from his first concussion. I think that we all hoped that Savard would come back to the level he once was as well, and hoped it was just more time needed. As Amich indicated, he seemed to be moving in the right direction. I agree with David, there is no way we go get Kelley if Savard is healthy. The Bruins have been good about checking their egos at the door, and if Marc Savard’s the third line center he would accept his role.

For anyone bashing Savard’s play this past season, where you not watching the games in January? About a week or so before that Avs game he was looking a lot more like the old Savard. He had 4 pts. in 5 games, he was making some great plays, he had a +3 game. . . The projection from others who’ve played in the NHL was it would take him 2-3 mos. to get back to his old self, & it looked like he was on the cusp of being there.

We probably don’t go out and get kelley if Savvy is healthy, but I still think the peverly move happens. Even if Savard is downgraded to a 3rd line center, he would still have been better than Kelley, who I won’t be sad to see go. Savard showed he was clutch even after receiving a concussion, so even with abbreviated (for him) production and playing time, it is unlikely that he would have hurt the teams chances in any way. Before his concussion, he was occasionally used on the PK, speaking to the fact that he could play defense, and was still really just coming back when he was concussed again. Also, you have to remember that while his production was poor for his standards, he was on a line with Horton who at the time was in a slump for the ages, which does not help one’s own points total.

It is possible that we don’t go and get peverly if Savvy is healthy, but then again, our power play probably wouldn’t have been a steaming pile of shit either. All and all, what happened happened. And we con the cup, so I can’t complain too much.

Frank, your glass is definitely half full.
I think missing Savard forced the bruins to pick up certain players they might not have otherwise and they definitely juggled the lines as a result.
Winning the cup is next to impossible with team parity where it is right now. For all the necessary stars to line up to win a cup, I have to believe Marc Savard not being in the lineup was a big part of it.

I’m not congratulating anyone for a headshot though. It’s sad but Savard is a big chunk of change for only one fragile man.

bruins16: stop living in the pre-Cooke hit era. No doubt the Bruins would’ve won the Cup this year with the ’08 or ’09 version of Savvy. No argument. But that’s not the case: it was the ineffective ’11 post-Cooke hit version this year. That’s all I’m saying. Stop living in the past.

Well said nifty. Believe me: I would truly prefer to think otherwise. David: it might not be ‘fair’ to Savvy as a human being but it’s the hurtful reality. Kenisha: you really think the Bruins would’ve missed the playoffs without the 10pts of Savvy (even if they finished 10pts ahead of the Rangers…)? tom: Peverley & Kelly are 3rd liners who don’t even play on the PP. I hope your expectations are way higher for a 1st liner who’s on the 1st PP unit…

No way the league should bend the rules and put his name on the cup. That is why they have rules as I am sure there are other players in the past that feel they should have had their name on the cup but didn’t. But of course with Colon Campbell having some say, anything to keep the Bruins happy will get done and Savard will have his name on the cup. What a joke.

Frank,
You do know you need to be in the top 8 in the Eastern Conference to make playoffs, right? Without Savard in Boston, the Bruins would have NOT been making playoffs. Thus, not being able to win the Cup. Savard allowed the Bruins to gain the confidence and determination that they needed to win the Cup. Savard allowed the Bruins to have the willingness and the DRIVE to win. He gave them a reason to not want to back down. Hockey isn’t all about skill, if it were, Ovechkin would have a ring; but it’s also about inspiration.
Ever heard of “Do it for Horton” or “Do it for Savvy”?

Frank,
It’s not at all fair to say that we would have lost the cup if Savard were healthy. In the games he played, he was obviously still affected by the Cooke concussion, and also not in the best of shape as a result. Had he had more time, he would have been better or asked to take some time off because of the concussion, and I do recall Julien benching him for a few periods because of ineffectiveness, so the comments are pretty far off base.
Also Karl,
I think Wheeler’s name will be on it, as well as Stuart’s because each played 41+ games in a Bruins sweater last year.

What are you talking about Mike? If Savard would have been healthy, no doubt the Bruins would NOT have won the Cup. Claude would’ve felt the obligation of giving him premium ice time despite his obvious ineffectiveness. 2 goals & 8 assists in 25 games for a player who doesn’t hit & is the worst defensive center of the team can’t be good… We should all thank Matt Hunwick for causing his injury & giving us our 1st Cup in 39 years. Though, I’m totally in favor of making an exception & engrave his name on the Cup. He would help his case a lot by announcing his retirement before the decision is taken.

This is a no-brainer. The Bruins certainly wouldn’t have evolved into a Stanley Cup winner without having #91 in the fold. Even though he didn’t participate in the 2011 playoff run, he’s been an integral part of the team, he did play 25 games during the year and, as TCL mentions, would certainly have played a critical role in the Cup run, had he been healthy enough to participate. I hope the league does the right thing and adds his name to history.